Jerusalem, Machaerus, and Masada in AD 70, 72, and 73: Comparative Analysis of the Three Subsequent Roman Circumvallation Siege Walls in the Lights of the Archaeological Evidence and the Narrative Accounts of Flavius Josephus

A groundbreaking reconstruction of the Roman siege wall around Jerusalem, built during the AD 70 campaign by Titus, has been achieved using archaeological evidence and digital mapping. The study confirms Josephus' account of a 39-stadia (7215-meter) circumvallation wall, positioned at least two stadia from the city walls, and identifies 13 military garrisons along its length. By comparing this to the siege walls of Machaerus and Masada, built in AD 72–73 by the same legion, researchers validated the Jerusalem structure's design and strategic layout. High-precision GPS and GIS measurements (accurate to 10 cm) mapped the former siege line, providing a rare archaeological correlation with historical narrative.

Vörös, G. (2024). Jerusalem, Machaerus, and Masada in AD 70, 72, and 73: Comparative Analysis of the Three Subsequent Roman Circumvallation Siege Walls in the Lights of the Archaeological Evidence and the Narrative Accounts of Flavius Josephus. Liber Annuus, 74, 215–245. https://doi.org/10.1484/j.la.5.150541